To Messi’s critics...with love

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 09: Lionel Messi of Barcelona kisses his shirt after scoring his second goal during the la Liga match between FC Barcelona and UD Almeria at the Camp Nou stadium on April 9, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.

Who doesn’t know Lionel Messi, the planet’s best player in 2010, 2011 and 2012? Since a very tender age, Lionel Messi was trained in F.C.Barcelona soccer school. Under a brilliant coaching system, few years later, Lionel Messi, as we all know, became a star footballer and undoubtedly, has been the best product of F.C.Barcelona till date. Not only that, as a player of that club, he has won the Spanish League (La Liga) five times, UEFA Champions League three times and the FIFA Club World Cup two times.

The question is, “Is Lionel Messi great because of his club, or vice-versa?”

There’s no doubt about the fact that Barça have a very strong squad in the form of the Puyols, the Xavis and the Iniestas. But without Messi, they lack a proper finisher. Of course, they do have David Villa who, on his day, can turn the game around. But does he have the same agility, footballing intelligence and skills as what Messi possesses? Well, certainly not. Messi’s record speaks for him.

Some may argue saying that Messi’s riding on luck and doesn’t have much success with his national team, Argentina. True. But we shouldn’t forget that his national team has three world-class strikers in Aguero, Higuaín and Tévez and doesn’t have good play makers as Barça does. Hence, Messi has to play as a winger and not a striker or second striker for his national team. Also, he hasn’t got much opportunity playing for Argentina but whatever limited opportunity he has got, he hasn’t disappointed.

Everyone has a different opinion. Some say, he is fortunate to play alongside Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, while some (including me) say, he is a wonderful talent which was discovered, on time, by F.C.Barcelona. Some criticize him, while some adore him.

Given the fact that he is one of the better footballers on the face of Earth ever, his salary is also soaring high, very high. Although the club has never recorded profit in its 112 years old history, still they do have the capability to have someone like Lionel Messi in the team.

Is it because Lionel Messi is beneficial? Of course, yes. With Messi in the team, the club makes a lot of money by selling “Messi” jerseys and other merchandise. Not just that, the name of F.C.Barcelona football school is becoming more and more popular and is increasing in demand as a lot of kids around the world want to be a part of the school and are taking football very seriously.

This is because F.C.Barcelona makes Lionel Messi what he is today and vice-versa.

P.S. – “No critic has ever changed the world.”